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The Shelak were the tribe closest to the xel'naga[1] and even when the xel'naga left Aiur, the Shelak continued to venerate them. Other tribes blamed them for excessive prying into the affairs of the xel'naga (in effect, driving the xel'naga away by annoying them excessively) and still other tribes attacked them because they hated the thought of any other tribe still venerating the xel'naga.

As the Aeon of Strife wore on, the Shelak attracted a disproportionate number of attacks, causing their numbers to dwindle. They carried several valuable xel'naga relics with them, but could not understand them, as the relics could not be accessed through psionics. The primary activity of the Shelak Tribe was warfare, protecting the relics from other protoss tribes.

The mystic Savassan, later known as Khas, came from this tribe. He left the tribe because he felt he could better understand the relics if he studied them rather than guarded them. He returned with the secrets of the lost protoss psionic link, ending the Aeon of Strife.[2]

Upon the re-organization of protoss society into a caste system, the Shelak were appointed by the other judicators to study and protect the khaydarin crystals. In addition, the Shelak, intrigued by the legacy of the xel'naga, continuously studied their ancient texts. Although the judicators banned all xel'naga teachings, the Shelak were granted an exception to this rule, the judicators hoping that the Shelak could unravel the mysteries of the xel'naga and thus expand their knowledge through the Khala.[1]

The word "Shelak" may be derived from Sheliak, from Arabic شلياق šiliyāq, a star in the Lyra constellation. The insignia of the Shelak tribe resembles a lyre, as well as the Lyra constellation when seen from the southern hemisphere.